A man arrested on child molestation charges has been suspended and the daycare where he worked during the alleged attack is under investigation, officials said.
Bernard Benta, 46, of Sandy Springs, was arrested Friday by Milton police on charges of child molestation and sexual assault by a school administrator, Milton police spokesman Lt. Charles Barstow said.
The alleged assault took place on a 4-year-old child who attended Bright Horizons daycare, which is located at 3105 Webb Road in Alpharetta.
Benta, who started as an assistant Pre-K teacher in August, was released from the Fulton County Jail Saturday evening, but the daycare, which is located at 3105 Webb Road in Alpharetta, suspended him from work when the complaint came in Feb. 11, a Bright Horizons spokeswoman said.
Bridget Perry, a spokeswoman for Bright Horizons, said Benta was cleared to teach after successfully completing a full background check that included an independent background check as well as the Bright from the Start background check.
Local daycare workers reported the parents’ complaint when it came in on Feb. 11 and they have been working with police and Bright from the Start state officials, Perry said.
“[Benta] was immediately placed on leave (suspended) when the parents brought the concern to us,” Perry said in an emailed statement. “We also reported it to licensing and Child Protective Services and we have been working closely with the authorities as they investigate.”
Bright Horizons staff spoke with all of the families in the classroom when the report was made, Perry said. Two parent meetings were held Monday night.
Reg Griffin, a spokesman with Bright from the Start, said all child care learning centers require a director who is responsible for the supervision, operation and maintenance of the center.
The director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility and must report suspected incidents of child abuse, neglect or deprivation to local County Department of Family and Children Services in accordance with state law.
Any concerns about a child care program in Georgia should be immediately reported to Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, through its Child Care Services Division, Griffin said.
Those reporting can remain anonymous. They should either call 404-657-5562 or email ccscomplaints@decal.ga.gov.
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